Phil Steele reveals what stands out from conversation with Joey Halzle

After producing the Phil Steele College Football preview for 25 years, Phil Steele has nearly seen it all. Nonetheless, Tennessee offensive coordinator Joey Halzle managed to impress him.

“He was very confident in the receiving corps despite losing a Biletnikoff winner in [Jalin] Hyatt. [Halzle] felt that they were deeper than last year and could keep the guys fresher,” Steele said on a recent interview on “Josh and Swain.” “Milton, who would you have said some wonders about, he’s very high on Joe Milton and thought that the offensive line was going to be deeper than last year, as well.”

It sounds like Halzle isn’t lacking any confidence. It makes sense. Tennessee added the 12th-best recruiting class in the nation this offseason. UT’s 2023 class is comprised of 26 players, including five-star Nico Iamaleava and 11 four-star prospects.

Additionally, the Vols picked up nine fresh faces in the transfer portal, headlined by former four-star wide receiver Dont’e Thornton. Halzle reportedly feels like the depth is a key to Tennessee’s danger.

“The overall take on the offense was that they’re a deeper unit and probably fresher later in the year,” Steele said.

This season will be Halzle’s first leading the Tennessee offense after Alex Golesh left this offseason to become head coach at the University of South Florida. Halzle has some big shoes to fill. The Volunteers led the nation last season with 78 touchdowns while averaging 7.23 yards per play.

Halzle was a key part of the success. In the past two seasons, he was the quarterbacks coach for the Vols and mentored Hendon Hooker, who was a finalist for the Maxwell Award and recorded the highest Heisman Trophy finish—fifth place—by a Vol in 25 years.

Halzle will have a new leader guiding his offense this season in Joe Milton III. Although Milton was not QB1 last season, he showed flashes of greatness. The 6-foot-5 quarterback played in nine games, racking up 1,048 yards of total offense.

Halzle is being paid handsomely to handle the quarterback transition. He received a raise from $400,000 in 2022 to $850,000 annually as offensive coordinator. His contract is set to expire in 2026.

Watch Halzle and Milton make their debut as the leaders of the Tennessee offense on Sept. 2, against Virginia in Nissan Stadium.